Call to scrap or delay sugar drinks tax plan

The industry group representing Irish beverage firms has called on Finance Minister Michael Noonan to significantly delay, or totally scrap plans to impose a tax on sweetened drinks in his October budget, as the UK government yesterday formally spelled out its plans for a sugar tax.

Under its plans, the UK will levy a tax on drinks with a total sugar content above 5 grams per 100ml, with a higher band for even more sugary drinks.

The UK government’s health department says sugary drinks are the single biggest source of sugar for children, and a child can have more than their recommended daily intake just by drinking a can of cola which contains nine teaspoons of sugar.